NFL Rumors: Dallas Cowboys Discussing Possible Trade for Young QB?

By Jeric Griffin

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Just hours after the New England Patriots announced a new three-year extension that will keep Tom Brady with the team through 2017, a Dallas Cowboys beat writer said the two teams are discussing a possible trade for Ryan Mallett. Considering Tony Romo‘s age, Brady’s new extension and the Cowboys’ awful luck with developing quarterbacks over the past decade, the move would definitely make sense.

Since being drafted by the Patriots in third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Mallett has been Brady’s primary backup while developing under New England coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots gave Brady another contract extension on Monday, which will keep him in New England through the 2017 NFL season, so Mallett is no longer the immediate future of the franchise and there’s no way he’ll just sit on the Patriots’ bench for another four years with so many quarterback-needy teams out there willing to deal.

Now the Cowboys obviously don’t need a new quarterback right now–Romo will be 33 this season–but they definitely will in the near future, especially if Romo keeps taking a beating with an awful offensive line “protecting” him. Mallett would also serve as a much better backup than Kyle Orton or any other washed-up, overrated veteran Dallas could bring in.

Some guys can play until they’re 40–Brady’s new contract will expire when he hits that milestone–but most players can’t. Romo likely won’t last that long and probably won’t want to, especially if the Cowboys don’t start making the playoffs consistently.

Put simply, Mallett would be one heck of an insurance policy and he would also give the Cowboys the option of expediting their future if they so choose, which is a real possibility if Romo’s career is cut short due to injury and/or Jerry Jones becomes impatient with his signal-caller like many of Dallas’ fans. Again, it’s just a rumor at this point, but considering there were rumors about the Cowboys drafting Mallett in 2011 (he and Jones are both Arkansas alumni), don’t be surprised if the Texas native ends up in Dallas sooner or later.